Travel
24 Hours In… New Orleans
1Look beyond New Orleans’ notorious party scene, and you’ll find a diverse, historically rich and culturally vibrant city where food is a way of life. Culinary blogger and NOLA native Leslie Lee takes us on a tour of her hometown.
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
27AM: Fuel Up At Toast – The first stop is Toast, a small breakfast and coffee shop in the Audubon area, where I’d recommend ordering either the Toast with Prosciutto, Honey and Ricotta, or Aebleskivers, the Danish version of pancakes. They’re a rare find, and they’re amazing! Tip: In a city known for its delicious food, it’s easy to overindulge. Small plates and sharing are the best way to get a little taste of each restaurant. toastneworleans.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
38 AM: Stroll Around Audubon Park – Audubon Park is filled with many things to do. A large lagoon runs through the park with tons of wildlife swimming around the Audubon waters. Don’t forget to bring some bread to feed the ducks, though you may be surprised by what animals you end up attracting. Other areas to visit around the park include the Audubon Zoo and the Audubon Golf Course. audubonnatureinstitute.org [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
39 AM: Tour The Bayou By Boat – What’s a trip to New Orleans without a visit to the bayou? Head to Jean Lafitte National Park, where you can explore the swamp by foot, seek out gators and enjoy the scenery. Schedule a tour to get closer to the wild alligators – your tour guide may even interact with them! Tip: Be sure to bring mosquito spray, especially during the warmer months, and opt for the swamp boat tour versus the airboat tour, as you’ll get the same thing but with the luxury of a sheltered vessel. jeanlafitteswamptour.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
512 PM: Break For Brunch – Perhaps the best thing about Stanley Restaurant, located in the heart of the French Quarter beside the St. Louis Cathedral, is that they serve brunch all day. The Eggs Stanley Benedict and the Oyster Poboy are clear favourites, made memorable by the fried-to-perfection local oysters. stanleyrestaurant.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
61 PM: Check Out The Neighbourhood – The wait for Stanley’s Restaurant can be long, so feel free to explore the surrounding area, including Jackson Square (surrounded by local artists and musicians), the St. Louis Cathedral, and the architecture of the city with its Old Spanish and French influences dating back centuries – and making New Orleans a city like no other.
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
7As you stroll, don’t overlook the sounds of NOLA. As the home of jazz, New Orleans is the heart and soul of many great local artists. While walking the streets, it’s hard to ignore the history of jazz playing throughout the city. [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
82 PM: Bite Into A Beignet – Located across Jackson Square from the St. Louis Cathedral, Café Du Monde is a New Orleans classic, where cloud-like donuts called beignets (pronounced: ben-yays) can be found: don’t be fooled by the imitation beignets nearby. After a taste of these delicious French pastries, head over to the adjacent French Market to browse locally crafted gifts and souvenirs. Tip: Café Du Monde is open 24/7 to give you your fried dessert fix. cafedumonde.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
93 PM: Take A History Lesson – One of the top-rated tourist attractions in the city is the National WWII Museum, aka the D-Day Museum, which displays interactive information and artefacts from the Second World War. One highlight is the Higgins boat display; designed by Andrew Higgins and built right here in New Orleans, these boats were the reason why Dwight D. Eisenhower once proclaimed, “Andrew Higgins is the man who won the war for us”. nationalww2museum.org [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
105 PM: Go From Some Snow – After all of that walking, you deserve a refreshing treat, especially in the hot summer months! Some may call this a “snowcone”, but if you ask any New Orleanian, it’s a snowball. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz is the local favourite stand; try their Cream of Nectar stuffed with ice cream and topped with condensed milk. Tip: The wait can vary from 10 minutes to over an hour, and this can be gruesome in the summer heat. Also, check their hours, since they close during the winter months. snobliz.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
116 PM: Feast On Bivalves – Save some room for Drago’s Restaurant, well-known for both their raw and charbroiled oysters. I lean towards the latter: buttery, herbaceous and grilled on its half shell, charbroiled oysters will melt in your mouth. While you’re there, try the Gumbo and the Crabmeat Salad. yelp.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
128 PM: Shop The Frenchmen Art Market – After all of that eating, it’s time to walk it off again! Visit Frenchmen Street for local jazz bands and bars, and stop by the Frenchmen Art Market filled with local artists and their work – make sure to bring a piece of NOLA home with you! Tip: This market is often open past midnight, but check the hours and days of operation before visiting. frenchmenartmarket.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
139 PM: Indulge In Wings (And Other Things) – Hidden in a strip mall off of the beaten path, Bayou Hot Wings is a NOLA wing joint offering not only delicious chicken wings, but also a few local dishes that you can’t find elsewhere. If you’re feeling gutsy, try the Gator Bites or the Fried Frog Legs with Remy – short for remoulade (pronounced: rem-oo-lod), a typical French sauce that here has been given a slight Cajun twist. bayouhotwings.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
1410 PM: Guzzle A Hurricane – The night is young! A great place to start an evening out is at Pat O’Brien’s with one of their famous Hurricane cocktails, which packs the punch of at least 5 drinks! Beware: There’s a beverage called the “Magnum”, containing a minimum of 15 Hurricanes in one giant vase-sized glass. It should be shared with at least 15 people, but that’s up to your discretion (shhh, we shared with six…). Tip: Order your Hurricane in a glass, and after you finish your drink, keep the iconic curvy glass as a souvenir! patobriens.com [Photo: chefsgirl.com]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
1512 AM: Hit Bourbon Street – The only other drink you’ll need to finish your night is the Hand Grenade from Tropical Isle; go to the 610 Bourbon St. location for live music. If you’re concerned about last call, don’t be. The nightlife on Bourbon Street isn’t done until you are, which can be as late as 6 AM. Tip: You may even take your beverage to-go, as long as it’s in a plastic cup or container (no glass). tropicalisle.com [Photo: Lars Plougmann/Flickr]
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
16Mardi Gras Tip: The Mardi Gras Festival season is usually between January and February. Parade times and locations will vary, so be sure to visit their webpages for more details. The more popular parades are within the final weekend of Mardi Gras, but to avoid the rowdy crowds, I would recommend visiting a few weeks before the last weekend. Most New Orleanians like to attend the smaller parades for more family-friendly fun. Tip: We locals love to say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”, meaning, “Let the good times roll!” mardigrasneworleans.com
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
17Watch Before You Go – Treme, an Emmy-awarded show about life in a small New Orleans community after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Although fictional, it captures the reality of life post-Katrina and depicts the city’s successful recovery. imdb.com
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
18Read Before You Go – Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. This novel-turned-movie portrays the old New Orleans, its history as well as myth – from voodoo to vampires. Tip: New Orleans is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the world; schedule a ghost tour or cemetery tour to experience its dark side. amazon.com
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
19Listen Before You Go – “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Louis Armstrong – it’s a New Orleans classic that you’ll hear often, whether it’s because the Saints Football team is playing at home in the Superdome, or because Mardi Gras festival season has begun. youtube.com
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
20Leslie Lee, aka ChefsGirl, is a New Orleans food blogger who married her chef husband after 10 years of exploring the culinary world together. After many years of experience in the food industry, she founded her own food and lifestyle blog to share her culinary and travel experiences. Visit chefsgirl.com
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24 Hours In… New Orleans.
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